 |
FASTPITCH (& SPORTS) FACTS
| GENERAL FACTS The average fastpitch pitch speed is 65 mph. One pitch at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games was clocked at 73.3 mph. Considering the pitcher stands 43’ feet from the batter, and the hardest-throwing baseball pitchers throw 99.4 mph from 60 feet, fastpitch batters have essentially the same time to react as their baseball counterparts.  |
GIRLS AND ATHLETICS* High school girls who play sports are less likely than non-participants to experience unwanted pregnancies; less likely to use drugs; less likely to smoke; less likely to be suicidal; more likely to get better grades in school; and more likely to graduate than girls who do not play sports.  |
||
| RULES OF THE GAME National Pro Fastpitch uses the same rules as the NCAA, including the International Tie-Breaker rule starting in the 10th inning. |
BASEBALL VS. FASTPITCH Here's a COOL GRAPHIC that compares baseball vs. softball (c) Mark Waters/The Arizona Republic |
||
| SOFTBALL'S POPULARITY There are 1,897,000 Softball (Fast-Pitch) participants in the U.S., with 649,000 participating 52+ times per year. 62% of all Softball (Fast-Pitch) participants are female and 90% of frequent (52+/year) Softball (Fast-Pitch) participants are female. |
|
NPF TIMELINE January 1989 Former Utah State University softball player Jane Cowles and her collegiate coach, John Horan, develop plan for a women's professional softball league. HISTORY OF SOFTBALL |
